2 Corinthians 9:8 Is a great promise from God's word. "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."
This is an encouragement to those of us who feel overwhelmed, and like we don't have any more to give. We can turn this promise into a prayer: God make all grace abound to me/us so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times I/we may abound in every good work.
We are a needy people and this Scripture shows us where our sufficiency must come from. Not from ourselves, but from God. God can give us the strength, energy patience, or even the resources we need. Remember what he did with five loaves of bread and a few fish.
It also shows us the direction our lives should be directed in. God doesn't give us the sufficiency we need so that we can feel good about it and serve ourselves. It is so that we can abound in every good work.
I hope as individuals, as families, and as churches we will call upon God for this and with the sufficiency from God (see also 2 Cor 3:5) we would abound in service.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Eyewitnesses of his Majesty John 2:13-17 (The Cleansing of the Temple)
Our Lord's agressiveness in confronting the animal sellers and money changers, in this passage, is undeniable: "And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple". Only here at the beginning of his ministry and again at the temple at the end of his Ministry do we see Christ act in physical aggression.
We naturally question; Why did Jesus respond so passionately? Why would our compassionate gracious Lord act in this way?
The answer has to do with who Jesus is and what the temple was.
Hebrews 1 says of Jesus "You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;" Christ is the exact imprint of the nature of the Father. And the Father feels indignation every day (Psalm 7:11). It was in Christ's nature to hate wickedness when he encountered the evil in the temple he hated it, and he responded.
Man's anger/hatred is corrupted by selfishness and pride so that righteous anger seems like an impossibility. The Scripture has numerous passages warning against man's anger (James 1:20, Eph 4:31 to name a couple). So we should be very careful trying to follow in Christ's foot steps in righteous anger. We must prayerfully search our hearts and ask what is really motivating us. We must also follow the Commandment, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you." But Christ had a perfect hatred. It wasn't jealousy and selfish ambition that led our Lord to make that whip.
Christ's motivations were pure. He was fulfilling a portion of what he was sent to do. This was prophesied of him, "And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap." (Mal 3:1-2)
Jesus came like a refiners fire because the temple was supposed to be something very different from what it had become.
In Deuteronomy 12:11 the Temple is referred to as, "the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make his name dwell there." The connection of God's name to the Temple is repeated often in the Old Testament. Honoring God's name is of prime importance in the Scriptures. The temple was to be the center of the worship of God. The temple was a place for God's name to be exalted. "Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD, give praise, O servants of the LORD, who stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God! Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant!" (Psalm 135:1-3) That was supposed to be the focus of the people in the house of the Lord.
The Temple was also meant to be a place where God's people drew near to him in prayer. When it was first built Solomon dedicated it and prayed, "that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, 'My name shall be there,' that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. " The Temple was meant to be a place of communion between God & Man.
And of course the Temple was where the sacrifices were to be offered. That is what the oxen, sheep, and pigeons were for. These offerings were to be pleasing to the LORD. And were a means for God's people to be reconciled to him.
As I mentioned Jesus loved righteousness and hated wickedness. As we think about this passage we should ask What did Jesus love and what did he hate that day at the Temple. Jesus loved true religion and was jealous for it. Jesus loved the name of God being honored. He loved people drawing near to God and being reconciled to him. Jesus loved what the temple was meant to be, and he hated what it had become. Jesus called the temple a house of trade. The primary purpose of the temple had become profit. The sellers and the moneychangers weren't concerned with the worship of God, with people drawing near to God, or being reconciled to him. They were concerned with Money. Jesus hated this.
Jesus loves the same things now that he did then and he hates the same things now that he did then. Jesus loves true religion and hates the corruption of it especially for profit. This should be a warning to us today.
In our time the physical temple in Jerusalem is no more. But that doesn't meant that there is no temple. Paul figuratively calls both to the Church as a whole and believers individually a temple.
To the individual he says, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?" (1 Corinthians 6:19). As believers we are to seek to worship God. We must honor the name of our God in word and deed and love him with all our hearts. We are to draw near to him in prayer. And look to Christ constantly for fellowship and reconciliation.
And of the Church he says, " the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit" (Eph 2:21-22) Growing into a holy temple aught to be the purpose of the Church. The purposes of the Old Testament temple were worship, prayer, and reconciliation. The Purposes of the Church are the same. In the church we must honor the name of God in worship. We must seek his face in prayer and encourage people everywhere to call out to him. And we must lift up to everyone God's means of reconciliation Jesus Christ crucified; the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
In our lives as individuals and as members of Christ Church we must put what he loves first, and repent when we do not.
My hope is that we will follow the disciples example and remember what they did.
His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me." John2:17
Monday, October 17, 2011
Sexual Morality in Light of the Resurrection (1 Corinthians 6:9-20)
1 Corinthians 6 is part of Paul's general rebuke against immorality in the Corinthian church. In the following verses Paul brings the focus onto sexual immorality.
Verses 9-10 give a list of multiple kinds of unrighteous persons who will not enter the Kingdom of God. Three of Paul's descriptions have to do with sex: "the sexually immoral..., adulterers..., men who practice homosexuality." Paul addresses the believers with this stern warning, and then verse 11 points to the work of Christ.
"And such were some of you." This is what God's people have been delivered from. Paul focuses on aspects of the salvation we have in Christ and what he has done for us. "You were washed", that is your sin and the filthy stain which it deserves have been taken away from you. "You were sanctified" you were set apart for a holy use. Though some of you lived previously in grievous sin God has a purpose for you and has graciously taken you out of that darkness and brought you into his kingdom. "You were justified" you are not judged by God according to your sins, but are counted as righteous before him. As David said, "Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity" (Psalm 32:1-2) All of the aspects of our salvation we have received because of Christ, "in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." And this salvation has been applied to us by the Spirit of God. Paul draws attention to what has been done for us because clearly looking to this and meditating on how great of a salvation we have, not of ourselves, but all of Christ should impact our behavior. It should motivate us to not live in immorality, but to live unto our Lord.
In verse 12 Paul states that he will, "not be enslaved by anything". Referencing slavery demonstrates what the reality of a life of unrighteousness is. As Paul says in another place, "Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?" (Romans 6:16) This also should move us to resist sin. What a sad life to live being a slave of sin which leads to death.
In Verse 13 Paul interjects a comment about food and the stomach. I don't know his reason for this for certain, but it may be that Paul is making the point that certain things are meant for each other in this case stomachs and food. And that God has authority over this, "will destroy both one and the other."
Then Paul mentions two more things that are meant for each other namely the Lord and the body. Paul further describes the meaning of this union between the Lord and the body in the remainder of the chapter. In verse 14 we see that as Christ has been raised our body shall also be raised by his power. Our union with Christ, the connection of our body with our Lord, is something eternal. What this says about our physical bodies is remarkable. Our body must be the most familiar thing in the world to us. For good or bad we know them every minute of our lives. Often we are frustrated with our bodies for various reasons. We see and deal with their imperfections every day, and at times painfully. Yet the word of God says wonderful things about our bodies. These same bodies have a purpose beyond this life. This body is meant for the Lord. In the resurrection our bodies will have a union with Christ that we can’t comprehend now. Paul goes on to say that our bodies are members of Christ (vs. 15). Our bodies are members of Christ now and how much fuller will they be in the resurrection. Also we who are joined to the Lord are one Spirit with him. How wonderful to be one Spirit with Christ we experience this now only in part, “then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known” (1 Cor 13: 12). Our body is further described as the temple of the Holy Spirit within you. At the temple God drew near to man and man drew near to God. It is through our body that we now have this union with God.
What Paul says in this passage about the resurrection and our union with Christ is relevant to sexual morality. Sex is about union. What makes sex desirable in part is the desire for intimacy. The word of God attacks this desire for sexual immoral intimacy with a promise of intimacy that blows it out of the water. Look at the contrast he makes with joining with a prostitute in Vs. 15-16. Whatever sexual temptation we deal with involves becoming united. If we become one body with someone in a sinful way it is like being joined to that sinful and shameful behavior. But in this passage, as always, Christ is held up to us as our treasure and our hope. We can disobey and become one body with someone in a shameful way or we can be joined with the Lord becoming one Spirit with him. In verse 18 it says we sin against our own body. We sin against it by breaking the union with Christ our body was meant for. This is why we must flee. Sexual sin with the separation from Christ and destruction it brings should frighten the Christian, and we should flee from it like we are running for our lives.
Sexual sin can be forgiven. Remember what some of the Corinthians were (Vs. 9-11) and they were washed, sanctified, and justified. But it at least breaks our fellowship with Christ. And choosing sexual sin over union with Christ continually leads to death eternal.
Not that sex is in itself sinful of course. A man does not break union with Christ by having sex with his wife in fact sex existed before sin had even come into the world (Gen 2:24).
If we believe 1 Corinthians 6 we should have a radically different view of what our body is than the views that are common in our time. Most people assume first off that their body belongs to them. In fact the certainty of this unquestionable in the minds of most. We here that people can do what they want with “their own” bodies in discussions on morality frequently. But the word says “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price”(Vs 19-20). Furthermore many believe or at least desire that not only their own, but other peoples bodies are their possession and exist for their pleasure. But a Christian view of the body is that it belongs to the Lord and is meant for the Lord. The body’s purpose is as a member of Christ now. The body’s destiny, which we should anticipate with great hope, is to be united with Christ forever.
In this passage the mercy of God in our salvation is displayed for us. The darkness of what sexual sin is in reality is described to us. And a great hope for our bodies of eternal union with Christ is promised to us. In light of all these truths we should use our bodies now and forever in acts of worship to our God. When by God’s grace we live pure lives he is glorified.
“So glorify God in your body.”
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
The Devil a prodigal?
A while back a friend of mine posted the following question:
When all is said and done, could the Devil be a prodigal son?
I think what is meant by the question was is there a possibility of reconciliation and forgiveness for the devil.
The devil's destiny is clearly stated in Revelation 20:10 as someone else already pointed out.
But I'd like to look at it from another perspective and look at what reconciliation with God is and who it is for.
The example of the Prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) is very useful. It demonstrates repentance (vs. 18) and the compassion of God (vs. 20). The resentment of the older brother is also an interesting subject for another time.
However the parable does not deal exhaustively with the concept of reconciliation. To gain a fuller understanding we have to look elsewhere in the Bible.
In 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 Paul calls his ministry the "ministry of reconciliation" (vs. 18). Here Paul describes the reconciliation offered to man. He says that , "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation...All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself."(Vs.17-18) And that, "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself"(Vs. 19). But Paul also makes clear in this section that this is possible because the price for this reconciliation has been paid: "we have concluded this: that one has died for all...and he died for all. that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised" (Vs. 14-15) This is a clear picture of reconciliation those that once lived for themselves in rebellion (like the prodigal son) will turn and live for God. But this requires the death of Christ. Paul points to the importance of the death of Christ again in Vs.21 "For our sake he made him sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Becoming that righteousness is clearly impossible without Christ being made sin.
This also agrees with the rest of the New Testament teaching on reconciliation. Hebrews 9:22 leaves no doubt, "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins."
Whose reconciliation was paid for by Christ in his death is something the New Testament describes in many ways. It is described as "many"(Matt 26:28), "the church of God" (Acts 20:28), "all men" (Rom 5:18), or the "whole world" (1 John 2:2). But one thing that I think is pretty indisputable is that the sacrifice was for people.
The devil isn't a person so it wasn't for him. That is bad news for the devil, but good news for people. Because something amazing is offered to people.
John 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
When all is said and done, could the Devil be a prodigal son?
I think what is meant by the question was is there a possibility of reconciliation and forgiveness for the devil.
The devil's destiny is clearly stated in Revelation 20:10 as someone else already pointed out.
But I'd like to look at it from another perspective and look at what reconciliation with God is and who it is for.
The example of the Prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) is very useful. It demonstrates repentance (vs. 18) and the compassion of God (vs. 20). The resentment of the older brother is also an interesting subject for another time.
However the parable does not deal exhaustively with the concept of reconciliation. To gain a fuller understanding we have to look elsewhere in the Bible.
In 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 Paul calls his ministry the "ministry of reconciliation" (vs. 18). Here Paul describes the reconciliation offered to man. He says that , "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation...All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself."(Vs.17-18) And that, "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself"(Vs. 19). But Paul also makes clear in this section that this is possible because the price for this reconciliation has been paid: "we have concluded this: that one has died for all...and he died for all. that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised" (Vs. 14-15) This is a clear picture of reconciliation those that once lived for themselves in rebellion (like the prodigal son) will turn and live for God. But this requires the death of Christ. Paul points to the importance of the death of Christ again in Vs.21 "For our sake he made him sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Becoming that righteousness is clearly impossible without Christ being made sin.
This also agrees with the rest of the New Testament teaching on reconciliation. Hebrews 9:22 leaves no doubt, "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins."
Whose reconciliation was paid for by Christ in his death is something the New Testament describes in many ways. It is described as "many"(Matt 26:28), "the church of God" (Acts 20:28), "all men" (Rom 5:18), or the "whole world" (1 John 2:2). But one thing that I think is pretty indisputable is that the sacrifice was for people.
The devil isn't a person so it wasn't for him. That is bad news for the devil, but good news for people. Because something amazing is offered to people.
John 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Eyewitnesses of his Majesty John 2:1-11 (The Wedding at Cana)
One of the first striking things in this passage is Mary's assertiveness. She requested a miracle, "They have no wine."(vs. 3) She desired to see her son do something amazing. Even after Jesus negative response she insisted, "Do whatever he tells you."(Vs. 5) Christ reaction to her can be puzzling. At first glance it appears he refuses the request, but he then proceeds to miraculously turn the water into wine.
We can understand Mary's request, and Christ reaction more if we look to another similar passage. In John 7 the Lord's brothers urged him to go to the Feast of booths. They said, "For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world". Christ response to his brothers, "I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come" was similar to what he said to Mary in our passage. The brother's motivation was clear: they wanted to see Jesus prove himself. Perhaps this was part of Mary's idea as well. She had been told great things about her son from before he was even born. She likely knew he had begun to gather followers. Now she wanted Jesus to reveal himself to everyone at the wedding.
Jesus had another purpose in mind however. He did the miracle, but likely not in the way Mary expected him to. It was not time for Jesus to reveal himself to a multitude of people. That time was coming but not yet. Christ could have made this occasion very public like the feeding of the five thousand. Jesus did not desire to attract to himself a multitude of people who followed him not because they believed in him but because they had drank and enjoyed the wine (like John 6:26). The size of the miracle itself was massive. Six jars carrying twenty or thirty gallons each is a whole lot of wine. Yet Christ purposely limited those who knew about the miracle. The master of the feast did not know (vs. 9). The bridegroom who got the credit for the good wine (Vs. 10) may not have known himself where it came from. For all we know the only ones who knew about the miracle that day were Mary, Christ's disciples, and the servants.
In this passage Jesus did not act as expected. God often does not act in the way people expect. He doesn't even act in the way people who love him (like Mary) would expect. We see this repeatedly in Scripture, and this is for his glory. This is why the Lord stripped Gideon's army down to three hundred men ( Judges 7). This is why Jesus himself would later thank the Father “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children." God's wisdom is unsearchable. At times he seems to do less than we would expect from him,and yet he does abundantly more than we ask or think.
Jesus purpose at the wedding at Cana was not for the the multitude it was for the disciples. "This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him." (vs. 11) He had told them they would see greater things (Jn 1:50), and now he was beginning to show them. His purpose at that time was not that he would be known by everyone, but that he would be known more by a few. The time for the multitude would come. Surely the time has come for Christ to be revealed to the whole world, and him revealing himself to his disciples was necessary for that to take place. It was to the disciples that the great commission was given. Their ministry and their writing would change the world. But first they had to see his glory themselves.
Let us remember this passage when we don't understand God's purposes. When we don't know why God is doing or not doing something. God may be calling us to know him more. His purpose could be, as it was for the disciples, that we would believe in him and see his Glory.
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Philippians 3:8
We can understand Mary's request, and Christ reaction more if we look to another similar passage. In John 7 the Lord's brothers urged him to go to the Feast of booths. They said, "For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world". Christ response to his brothers, "I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come" was similar to what he said to Mary in our passage. The brother's motivation was clear: they wanted to see Jesus prove himself. Perhaps this was part of Mary's idea as well. She had been told great things about her son from before he was even born. She likely knew he had begun to gather followers. Now she wanted Jesus to reveal himself to everyone at the wedding.
Jesus had another purpose in mind however. He did the miracle, but likely not in the way Mary expected him to. It was not time for Jesus to reveal himself to a multitude of people. That time was coming but not yet. Christ could have made this occasion very public like the feeding of the five thousand. Jesus did not desire to attract to himself a multitude of people who followed him not because they believed in him but because they had drank and enjoyed the wine (like John 6:26). The size of the miracle itself was massive. Six jars carrying twenty or thirty gallons each is a whole lot of wine. Yet Christ purposely limited those who knew about the miracle. The master of the feast did not know (vs. 9). The bridegroom who got the credit for the good wine (Vs. 10) may not have known himself where it came from. For all we know the only ones who knew about the miracle that day were Mary, Christ's disciples, and the servants.
In this passage Jesus did not act as expected. God often does not act in the way people expect. He doesn't even act in the way people who love him (like Mary) would expect. We see this repeatedly in Scripture, and this is for his glory. This is why the Lord stripped Gideon's army down to three hundred men ( Judges 7). This is why Jesus himself would later thank the Father “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children." God's wisdom is unsearchable. At times he seems to do less than we would expect from him,and yet he does abundantly more than we ask or think.
Jesus purpose at the wedding at Cana was not for the the multitude it was for the disciples. "This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him." (vs. 11) He had told them they would see greater things (Jn 1:50), and now he was beginning to show them. His purpose at that time was not that he would be known by everyone, but that he would be known more by a few. The time for the multitude would come. Surely the time has come for Christ to be revealed to the whole world, and him revealing himself to his disciples was necessary for that to take place. It was to the disciples that the great commission was given. Their ministry and their writing would change the world. But first they had to see his glory themselves.
Let us remember this passage when we don't understand God's purposes. When we don't know why God is doing or not doing something. God may be calling us to know him more. His purpose could be, as it was for the disciples, that we would believe in him and see his Glory.
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Philippians 3:8
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Colossians Prayer
Sometimes when I read Paul's letters I try to figure out what he is teaching. I try to understand the doctrine he writes about in the passages. But recently when I read his letters I look more to learn from what his purpose and motives were. The single mindedness and passion that Paul exhibited are amazing. The Glory of God and the salvation and maturity of God's people was all he cared about. His expectation and hope were that Christ would be honored in his body (Phil 1:20). He cared so much for those he ministered to that he called them his joy and crown (Phil 4:1).
When I think about Paul and his heart for ministry it is evident how far I fall short. Maybe you've thought this as well. This deficiency struck me when I was reading Colossians last week. I know that what made Paul who he was was the powerful working of God. The same God that we, for Jesus' sake, have access to in prayer. So I put together this prayer which is mostly just an arrangement of parts of Colossians 1-2. The prayer focuses first on having a heart for ministry like Paul, and then praying for those we seek to minister to. I hope it is effective in your life and mine:
Thank you Father for mercifully qualifying me to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
I desire to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to you, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Work in me Lord as you worked so powerfully in the Apostle Paul.
You gave such a heart and such strength to a former persecutor of the Church; to the chief of sinners. Give it also to me.
Lord I know that power and strength belong to you, and that the Lord Jesus has promised to be with us unto the end of the age with all authority for the discipling of the nations.
Make me, like Paul, toil and struggle with all my energy for the good of everyone and for the glory of your name.
By your glorious might strengthen me for all endurance and patience with joy.
Give me the words to warn and to teach in order to present those who I speak to mature in Christ.
May the hearts of those I seek to minister to be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
May no one take them captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, and not according to Christ.
Fill them in Christ in whom all the whole fullness of the deity dwells bodily.
In Jesus name,
Amen
When I think about Paul and his heart for ministry it is evident how far I fall short. Maybe you've thought this as well. This deficiency struck me when I was reading Colossians last week. I know that what made Paul who he was was the powerful working of God. The same God that we, for Jesus' sake, have access to in prayer. So I put together this prayer which is mostly just an arrangement of parts of Colossians 1-2. The prayer focuses first on having a heart for ministry like Paul, and then praying for those we seek to minister to. I hope it is effective in your life and mine:
Thank you Father for mercifully qualifying me to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
I desire to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to you, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Work in me Lord as you worked so powerfully in the Apostle Paul.
You gave such a heart and such strength to a former persecutor of the Church; to the chief of sinners. Give it also to me.
Lord I know that power and strength belong to you, and that the Lord Jesus has promised to be with us unto the end of the age with all authority for the discipling of the nations.
Make me, like Paul, toil and struggle with all my energy for the good of everyone and for the glory of your name.
By your glorious might strengthen me for all endurance and patience with joy.
Give me the words to warn and to teach in order to present those who I speak to mature in Christ.
May the hearts of those I seek to minister to be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
May no one take them captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, and not according to Christ.
Fill them in Christ in whom all the whole fullness of the deity dwells bodily.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Eyewitnesses of his Majesty John 1:35-51 (Five disciples)
In this portion of the chapter we see five disciples. Four of them are named: Andrew, Simon, Philip, and Nathanael and one is not. Some believe that the unnamed disciple is John the apostle himself (the author of the book). In any case we can draw some lessons from our Savior's interaction with these men.
First two of John the Baptist's disciples followed him. Andrew and the unnamed disciple. These men had been prepared. John's message of repentance had been preached to them, and it was painfully clear to them that they needed a Savior to take away sins. They needed the lamb of God. Jesus greets them with a question: "What are you seeking?" This cuts right to the heart of these men. What is there purpose in coming to him? What is it they desire? This is a question that everyone who seeks to know about Jesus or Christianity or comes to church must face. What are you really after? There is only one right answer and these disciples got it right. The answer was him. They were seeking him. They wanted more than an idea or a method or a blessing they wanted him. We see them saying "where are you staying?" that's because they are ready to move in. Jesus promises to live with those who follow him. "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."
The last three disciples all have something in common. Jesus appears to know them. This likely was the first time Simon Peter encounters Jesus, and yet in Vs. 42 it sounds as though Jesus already knows him, and even more he already has a name for him. Philip is the only one of these first five where Jesus initiates the contact. Jesus found him. And Jesus already knew Nathanael and saw him under the fig tree. These all demonstrate the Jesus knew his disciples before they knew him. Even the ones that sought and found him were more truly found by him. As he would say later, "You didn't choose me but I chose you" (John 15:16)Christ knew them and chose them and had a purpose for them.
Let us remember these lessons. We should be seeking to know Jesus intimately. Remember why you are really there the next time you walk in to Church "What are you seeking?" And remember if we are Christians that means Jesus knew us before we knew him. We are like Jeremiah the Old Testament Prophet to whom the Lord said, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you"(Jer 1:5). Let that be a comfort and an encouragement he knew us he chose us and he has a purpose for us. He leads us in paths of righteousness.
And the final lesson is that Jesus offers to show the greatness and glory of God to those who follow him. As we see with these disciples; they had seen enough to come, but he would show them so much more. He said to the two disciples "Come and you will see". He said to Nathanael, "You will see greater things than these". He has more to show us as well.
"Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God." John 11:40
First two of John the Baptist's disciples followed him. Andrew and the unnamed disciple. These men had been prepared. John's message of repentance had been preached to them, and it was painfully clear to them that they needed a Savior to take away sins. They needed the lamb of God. Jesus greets them with a question: "What are you seeking?" This cuts right to the heart of these men. What is there purpose in coming to him? What is it they desire? This is a question that everyone who seeks to know about Jesus or Christianity or comes to church must face. What are you really after? There is only one right answer and these disciples got it right. The answer was him. They were seeking him. They wanted more than an idea or a method or a blessing they wanted him. We see them saying "where are you staying?" that's because they are ready to move in. Jesus promises to live with those who follow him. "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."
The last three disciples all have something in common. Jesus appears to know them. This likely was the first time Simon Peter encounters Jesus, and yet in Vs. 42 it sounds as though Jesus already knows him, and even more he already has a name for him. Philip is the only one of these first five where Jesus initiates the contact. Jesus found him. And Jesus already knew Nathanael and saw him under the fig tree. These all demonstrate the Jesus knew his disciples before they knew him. Even the ones that sought and found him were more truly found by him. As he would say later, "You didn't choose me but I chose you" (John 15:16)Christ knew them and chose them and had a purpose for them.
Let us remember these lessons. We should be seeking to know Jesus intimately. Remember why you are really there the next time you walk in to Church "What are you seeking?" And remember if we are Christians that means Jesus knew us before we knew him. We are like Jeremiah the Old Testament Prophet to whom the Lord said, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you"(Jer 1:5). Let that be a comfort and an encouragement he knew us he chose us and he has a purpose for us. He leads us in paths of righteousness.
And the final lesson is that Jesus offers to show the greatness and glory of God to those who follow him. As we see with these disciples; they had seen enough to come, but he would show them so much more. He said to the two disciples "Come and you will see". He said to Nathanael, "You will see greater things than these". He has more to show us as well.
"Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God." John 11:40
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